I’m honored to be over at SheLoves Magazine today. We all have times when the words of others have wounded us deeply. How we respond affects our lives for long after. I’d love to hear your story or thoughts on overcoming hurtful words & the offering of forgiveness. Please feel free to share them at SheLoves or leave a comment here at BellaVerita. Thanks!

When the words left her lips, I sat stunned. The air in the room was sucked out in a moment’s edict, from a woman of whom I expected grace.

I was one of six, sitting around the table, searching out deeper truths of the New Testament on a windy day in April. Including the teacher, there were four men and two women, one older and one younger – me.

It happened during the break. We were asked us to introduce ourselves. The simple words of small talk common to new groups were spoken. Circling around the table, I was the last to speak. Like the others, I began with my church history, years of attendance, years married, finishing with my son who was six, and my daughter not quite a year old who was born with Down syndrome.

Anita Mathias’ Francesco, Artist of Florence: The Man Who Gave Too Much is the story of a Florentine artisan skilled in the art of pietre dure, also referred to as the art of painting in stone. If “…a picture is a poem without words…” as Horace once said, than pietre dure is poetry in stone.

Everyday, the Divine Artist creates masterpieces. As I descended the wooden plank walkway, I couldn’t help but wonder how many of them I’ve missed. In my busyness? How many times have I allowed beauty to be overshadowed by things over which I have no control?

It’s the one who goes through the storms of life, withstanding all of the harshness and winds of difficulty, by leaning into the One who created all in an spectacular act of love…this is the one whose roots of faith grow deep and strong, in the unseen places of the heart.